KU students against polygamy, marriage to non-Kuwaitis - study

KUN0019 4 GEN 0198 FRANCE /AFP -PCZ0 SOC-KUWAIT-STUDY-MARRIAGE KU students against polygamy, marriage to non-Kuwaitis - study By Kawthar Al-Ghanem (with photos) KUWAIT, March 27 (KUNA) -- A field academic study revealed Monday that many of the younger generation reject marriage of convenience, high dowries and polygamy. The study was conducted by Dr. Essa Mohammed Al-Ansari, assistant to the Kuwait University deputy rector for academic services, and KU professor Dr. Ali Assad Watfa. It is entitled "KU students' view towards marriage customs". The study noted that the stances of the university students towards marriage are considered a norm for value and cultural changes in the modern Gulf societies. Dr. Al-Ansari told KUNA that the majority of students involved in the study support early marriage, relatives' marriage and marriage out of love. He added that the students are strongly against marriage of convenience, high dowries, and friendship between the two sexes, polygamy and marriage to foreigners. This, he said, indicates a deep transformation in the stances of students towards marriage and their acceptance of new marriage patterns, such as marriage out of love. Dr. Al-Ansari said the study, conducted on 714 KU students, reveals that 96.4 percent strongly oppose business marriage, whereas 81.5 percent of students are against high dowries. Up to 65.3 percent of the students are against polygamy. 80.7 percent of questioned females are against polygamy against only 43.7 percent for questioned males. About 66.8 percent of questioned males are supporting early marriage against 57.10 of female students. Furthermore, 53.7 percent of students in the study are with marriage to relatives, including 58.4 percent of questioned male students and 50.4 percent of females. As for the marriage from non-Kuwaitis, Dr. Al-Ansari said that 60.4 percent of the students refuse this phenomenon whereas 39.6 percent approve it. He added that 71.3 percent of the questioned female students are against marriages to non-Kuwaitis compared to 45.1 percent of the male students as this would have a negative impact on women in general and their position in the Kuwaiti society while the Kuwaiti men can enjoy all the privileges even when married to a non-Kuwaiti. The study also revealed that 50 percent of students believe in marriage out of love. Up to 52.2 percent of questioned male students are with this kind of marriage compared to 49.2 for the questioned female students, although students refuse friendship between the two sexes, by a majority of 67.3 percent. (end) kg.si